Bermudian martial artist Deondre Morris steps back on to the world stage this weekend for a Muay Thai heavyweight title fight on an historic pay-per-view card in Canada.

Morris, 36, will take on his opponent on Saturday night in the first sanctioned professional kickboxing fight in Ontario — and he says he could not be prouder to be carrying the Bermudian flag.

“Someone reached out to me in the last week of March and asked me if I wanted to participate,” Morris said.

“They had an opponent for me and said because of our experience that they wanted to make it for a title. I’ve been fighting in Canada for many years, so they know me, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity that they allowed me to fight for such a prestigious title.”

The compressed training timeline might raise eyebrows, but Morris barely needed to change gear, as training is not something he switches on and off.

“If you’re always ready, then you don’t have to get ready,” he said. “I always train and it’s more a lifestyle. When they called me, I already knew I was in condition and shape as we fought at least three or four times last year, so I just knew I had to put some finishing touches on it.

“Since it’s a heavyweight fight I don’t have to lose any weight, so that’s why I jumped at the opportunity.”

As for Alec Shirley, the man he is facing in the ring, Morris knows little and is concentrating solely on himself.

“I only know him by name,” he said. “To me, he's just another opponent and that’s all he is. But don’t get me wrong, this is a very prestigious event.

“There are professional fighters headlining and it’s a pay-per-view event through a combat sports website and will be livestreamed throughout the world.

“There are multiple nationalities represented. From my understanding there are going to be Canadians, Mexicans, Americans and Brazilians there. It's a huge card, it really is, and it’s great to be representing Bermuda.

“Bermuda is always punching above its weight and I really want Bermudians to be proud that we consistently make it to the big stage.

“I'm not a person to really talk about myself a lot or promote myself a lot, but I feel it’s great that I get to represent on this stage, among all these highlight-reel fighters — there’s some great talents on this card.

“I'm very proud to just be here representing and I really want Bermudians to be proud of all our sportsmen and women.”

This will be Morris’s second world-title contest, a decade on from his first. In 2016, competing under West Sydney Fight Productions, he won and he thinks he is better condition now than he was ten years ago.

“I feel in better shape than ever,” he said.

“I run my own martial arts school in Bermuda, which keeps me active and connected to the craft year-round, and I’m hopeful that come Saturday night I will have a belt to bring back to the island.”